Fluid regulator



Oct. 8, 1935- w. c. BUCKNAM FLUID REGULATOR Filed Dec. 30, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l 5 l k w 9 L 95 22 INVENTOR WaRr /r BUCK/V UWVW W ATTORNEY,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR META y f EVf/f/V/M? ATTORNEYS Oct. 8, 1935. w. c. BUCKNAM FLUID REGULATOR Filed Dec. 30, 1927 Patented Oct. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES FLUID REGULATOR Worthy C. Bucknam, Buffalo, N. Y., assignor to The Linde Air Products Company, a corporation of Ohio Application December 30, 1927, Serial No. 243,730

9 Claims.

This invention relates to fluid regulators, and more particularly to an improved regulating valve designed to reduce and regulate the pressure of the gas delivered from a tank or cylinder of compressed gas, such as oxygen, acetylene, etc. Some features of this invention are also applicable to other types of fluid regulators and valves.

Accurate seating of the valve and nozzle is a primary requisite of a successful fluid-pressure regulator. Most regulators, when first made, comply with this requirement; but after a period of service, especially in controlling high pressures, they become leaky and unfit for close regulation particularly because of wear and corrosion of the valve seat and adjoining parts of the regulator.

This may be remedied only by repairing or renewing some or all of the worn parts, which usually means returning the regulator to the manufacturer for repairs. Even then, it is quite often impossible to stop leakage, since a repaired or new valve seat, for example, may not properly line up with an old nozzle because the valve guide drilled in the body of the regulator casing has become worn and impossible to repair.

This invention aims to generally improve and simplify the construction of fluid controlling mechanisms, and especially to provide an improved nozzle and seat assembly for fluid valves and regulators which (1) shall remain leakproof and serviceable for a much longer period than those heretofore known; and (2) shall be so constructed that the user may easily substitute a new valve assembly in a leaky regulator without the expense and inconvenience incurred in sending the entire regulator to a factory or service station for repairs.

The above and other objects and the novel features of this invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a pressurereducing gas regulator embodying this invention, parts being shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is sectional view of the same taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1, parts being broken away and others being indicated by dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of the same, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l, and of the cooperating portions of improved nozzle and valve seats.

Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views, on an enlarged scale, illustrating two types of seats which may be employed in the improved regulator.

As shown, my improved regulator comprises a pressure-responsive diaphragm D that divides the regulator casing '0 into two compartments A and B", in the respective casing sections A and B. The compartment A houses means such as an adjustable spring S bearing against the diaphragm to set the regulator for the desired service'or 5 delivery pressure and the other compartment B communicates directly with a low pressure service line L and contains the valve V and its diaphragm-operated actuating mechanism for controlling the admission of fluid from the supply 10 pipe H, which may be coupled by a nut H to a cylinder or other container of gas or fluid under relatively high pressure.

The supply pipe H is threaded into a recess II] in a boss III on the rear side of the base section 15 B, which recess communicates through a passage 'II with an inlet chamber I2. This chamber is part of a drilling that-extends lengthwise through the base section B perpendicular to the axis of the diaphragm D and is closed at its opposite ends 20 by the threaded caps I3 and I4 which bear against suitable-sealing gaskets. Between its ends the said drilling comprises a bore I5 of smaller diameter than that of the chamber I2, leaving a shoulder at I6. 25

The improved valve and nozzle assembly comprises a quill or tube I8 that snugly fits the bore I5 and is secured in place by threads I9. A collar 20 on the quill abuts against the shoulder I6 and seals the chamber I2 at this point. The 30 end of the quill including this collar is located in the chamber I2 and the opposite end may project beyond the end of the bore I5. The nozzle comprises a tube 22 which snugly fits into the quill I8 and "is secured thereto by threads 23, and 35 'a collar 24 on the nozzle seats against the end of the quill to seal "the joint at this point.

One end of the nozzle tube 22 terminates in the chamber I2, where suitable means may be provided to separate dust and moisture from the gas 40 before it enters the longitudinal passage 25 that extends through the nozzle. For this purpose, I employ a cylindrical screen 26 surrounded by a non-inflammable fibrous covering 21, such as cotton impregnated with a suitable fireproofing 45' solution. One end of the screen is soldered to a metal plug 28 and its opposite end is soldered to a nipple 29 that is screwthreaded into a counter bore 25 at the end of the passage 25 of the nozzle 22. The inner end of the cap I3 bears against 50 and is recessed at I3 to receive and center the plug 28. The nipple 29 is formed to fit and is in threaded connection with the counterbored portion 2 5' of the nozzle passage 25, which latter registers with the passage through the nipple. 55

The orifice of the nozzle passage 25 is located opposite a hole I8 through the quill l8, the flow of gas to the hole if! being controlled by a slightly yieldable seat 30 carried by the valve V. The seat 35 desirably consists of a block of hard rubber secured into a cavity 30 in the end of the valve and is of substantially larger diameter than the outlet orifice of passage 25 so that the seat 39 will engage a substantial area of the flat seating surface 22 at the end of the nozzle 22. In order to obtain a better seal between the surface 22, the seat 35 and the annular sealing surface V, the latter is inclined at a slight angle (less than 2") to the flat face 22', as best shown in Fig. 4. By this construction, the seat 30 is always properly presented to the nozzle orifice and adjoining face 22, andany wear at this point is compensated. To further materially prolong the life of the valve and reduce possibility of leakage, I prefer to make the nozzle 22 and the metal part of the valve V of metal that is much more resistant to oxidation and wear than heat-treated or hardened steel. For this purpose, I may use metals such as stainless steel, chrome iron, chromium plated steel, or the like; so that these parts will be less liable to wear during a long period of service and less apt to oxidize or corrode because of moisture, etc., in the gas.

The valve V snugly fits the quill l8 and its sliding movement relatively to the nozzle face 22 is controlled by the diaphragm D which may be set to obtain the desired pressure reduction by turning the screw P. This screw is adjustable in a threaded opening P by means of a handle N, and its inner end engages the upper spring seat 32. The lower end of the spring S bears against a plate 33 that is clamped to the top side of the diaphragm D. One or two of the lower coils of the spring encircles a neck 33' of the plate 33 to center the spring and hold it in place. The plate 33 and its neck have a central threaded bore which register with a central hole in the diaphragm D to receive the threaded stem 34 of a connecting yoke 35 which has a flange 36 that presses a gasket 3'! against the under side of the diaphragm around the hole in the latter, the stem 54 serving to rigidly clamp the plate 33 and yoke 35 to the diaphragm. The yoke 35 has a crossbore'or recess 35 to loosely receive the rounded head at the end of the horizontal arm 38 of a bellcrank K which is pivoted at 39 in lugs 39 on an annular supporting plate 40 which is secured to the bottom of the chamber B by screws 45. A hole or port 4| drilled through the bottom of the chamber B into the bore I5 establishes communication from the port l8 of the quill to the chamber B through the space within the plate 40.

The vertical arm 42 of the bellcrank K depends into a chamber E at one end of the bore [5, and is operatively coupled to the valve V, as by a pin 43 which extends into an axial socket 44 in the rear end of the valve. The pin 43 may be removably secured to the bellcrank by a screw 45 which has a rounded recess in its inner end fitting the rounded head 43' of the pin to hold the rounded under side of said head against a curved seat in the bottom of the threaded cavity 45 in the arm 42, into which cavity these parts are secured. The shank of the pin projects through an aperture 41 in the bottom of the cavity and. is free to move laterally to keep the pin 43 alined with the socket 44 and prevent binding of these parts when the bellcrank is adjusted about its pivot 39'. A spring 48 may be inserted in a cavity or bore 49 in line with the bore I5, and arranged to seat against the head of the screw 45 and against the inner end of the screw M, to steady the movements of the bellcrank.

By turning the handle N to unscrew the screw P, the valve V may be moved toward the end seating face of the nozzle 22, and the gas or other fiuid may be completely shut off, when desired. When tightly closed, the yieldable seat 35 of the valve is sufiiciently compressed against the seating face 22' to bring the seating face V of the valve into sealing contact with the nozzle, thus providing a combined seal and reducing wear on the sealing block 30. When the handle N is turned to open the valve, the gas pressure in the nozzle passage 25 of course acts to unseat the valve to the amount determined by the setting.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the low pressure delivery type L, which leads to a blowpipe or other gas consuming device, is coupled to the casing section B by a nipple 55 which communicates through a passage 5! and a hole 52 in the plate 46 with the low pressure chamber B. The nipple 55 desirably projects from the front and lower side of the bottom casing section B which has a lug 53 located so as to protect the nipple 50.

Suitable high and low pressure gages X and Y are mounted on the regulator, nipples X and Y thereof being screwed into recesses on the upper sides of extensions which carry the screws l3 and l 4. The gage X communicates through a passage 54 with the inlet chamber 12, the packing 2? being also located across the entrance of the passage 54 to exclude dust and moisture from the gage. The gage Y communicates through a passage 55 with the chamber 49 that constitutes part of thelow pressure chamber B. The gages X and Y are mounted on the top side of the regulator casing and on opposite sides of the housing A which carries the adjusting screw P.

Fig. 5 illustrates a modified type of valve which may be employed in place of the one shown in Fig. 4. Here, an annular seat 56 of yieldable material such as hard rubber is disposed in an annular recess 5? in the valve V. The height of the ring seat 55 is such that it normally projects slightly beyond the sealing face 58 of the valve so that a perfect seal will be obtained with the face 22' of the nozzle when the valve is tightly closed, whereupon the metal faces 58 and 22 will also contact on both inner and outer sides of the seat to increase the sealing area and to reduce wear on the seat 56. Moreover, the inner diameter of the seat 56 is materially greater than the diameter of the nozzle passage '25 so that there will be a substantial mass of metal directly opposite the outlet orifice of the passage 25, as at 58', to dissipate heat developed by the compression of residual gas in the passage 25 when the supply cylinder valve, or other valve which may control the supply of gas to the supply pipe H is first opened. Otherwise the construction in Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 4.

The operation of the regulator will be apparent from the foregoing description and the drawings. It will be understood that the screw P is in a vertical position when the regulator is secured to a compressed gas cylinder by the coupling H, which has the advantage that the handle is out of the Way and will not catch on the clothing of workmen, and also reduces possibility of injury to workmen should the screw P or top section A become loosed and blow ofi of the bottom section B. In case leakage developes at the valve, the entire valve and nozzle assembly may be readily removed through the passage 12 by first removing the cap i3 and the filter screen and then unscrewing the quill I8 for repairs or replacement by a perfect assembly. The end of the quill l8 in the chamber 12 is of hexagon .or other suitable shape to receive a socket wrench inserted into the chamber after the cap I3 is removed; and the nozzle 22 and nipple 29 may likewise be provided with wrench-receiving portions, while the plug 28 may have a screw-driver slot for tightening these parts. The improved arrangement simplifies the assembly and perfect fit of the nozzle and valve seating surfaces, and the bore of the quill insures a perfect alinement of these parts. Moreover, by renewing the quill l8 it is unnecessary to discard an entire regulator casing section as heretofore, where the valve and nozzle were fitted directly into a bore in the regulator casing. The admission of particles of dust and moisture, which frequently cause leakage, is substantially eliminated; and by making the nozzle, valve and quill o-f-wear and corrosion resistant metal the life of these parts is greatly increased and the valve may be relied upon to very accurately hold the delivery pressure at any particular setting.

Although the particular regulator here shown for the purpose of illustrating my invention is described in detail, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in this construction and the particular embodiment of the invention may be varied without departing from the principles of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a fluid regulator, the combination of a casing comprising a base section and a top section secured together; a diaphragm secured between said sections; said base section having a drilling providing a bore and a chamber axially in line and perpendicular to the axis of said diaphragm; said base section having an inlet opening into said chamber and said bore having a port in its wall; a quill secured in said bore and having, between its ends, an aperture registering with said port; a nozzle secured in said quill having a passage terminating adjacent said aperture and communicating with said chamber; a valve in said quill controlling such nozzle passage; means whereby said valve is operable by said diaphragm; said quill with the nozzle and the valve carried thereby being removable as a unit from said casing through said chamber; and a detachable cap normally closing said chamber.

2. A fluid regulator comprising the combination of a casing having an inlet, an outlet, and a bore between such inlet and outlet; a quill removably secured in said bore; a nozzle in said quill communicating with said inlet; and a valve in said quill movable toward and away from the outlet orifice of said nozzle to control the flow of fluid from said inlet to said outlet, said quill and said bore having registering gas passages adjacent the outlet orifice of said nozzle, said quill, nozzle, and valve being removable as a unit from said bore.

3. A fluid regulator comprising in combination a casing having an inlet chamber and a diaphragm chamber in communication therewith, said diaphragm chamber having an outlet; a closure for said inlet chamber; a nozzle having a passage constantly communicating with the inlet chamber; a valve cooperating with said nozzle to control the flow of fluid therethrough; a. quill in said casing carrying said nozzle and valve a portion of which extends into the dia- 'phragm chamber; and supporting means in said diaphragm chamber; said quill being removable from said casing through said inlet chamber. 5

4.'A fluid regulator comprising the combination of a casing having an inlet chamber and a diaphragm chamber; a wall in the casing having a side exposed to the diaphragm chamber; said wall having a bore aligned with the inlet 1 chamber and a transverse port extending between said bore and the diaphragm chamber; an outlet from the diaphragm chamber; a nozzle having a passage communicating with the inlet chamber; a valve cooperating with the 15 outlet orifice of said nozzle passage to control the fiow of fluid through the latter; and a quill carrying said nozzle and said valve; an outlet port in the wall of said quill adjacent said nozzle outlet orifice and cooperating with the trans- 2-0 verse port of said wall to provide communication between the outlet orifice of the nozzle and the diaphragm chamber; said quill being removably secured in said bore and removable from said casing through the inlet chamber. 25

5. A fluid regulator comprising in combination,

a casing having a diaphragm chamber and an inlet and outlet communicating therewith; a bored housing extending into the diaphragm chamber and having a transverse port in its wall 30 communicating with said chamber; a quill fitted snugly within the bore of said housing and having an outlet port intermediate its length and adapted to align with the transverse port in the housing, and a valve and nozzle carried by the 35 quill and removable from the housing therewith as a unit; the valve and nozzle fitting snugly in the bore of the quill, and the valve being slidable therein.

6. In a fluid regulator, the combination of a 40 casing having alined openings and a bore between such openings, a nozzle in said bore removable through one of said openings, a valve co-. operating with said nozzle and simultaneously removable therewith, actuating means for said 5 valve comprising a spring removable through the other opening, and caps normally closing said openings.

'7. In a fluid regulator, the combination with a passage having an outlet orifice; of a valve con- 50 trolling said orifice; and means for operating said valve comprising a pivoted bellcrank, a flexible diaphragm having a slidable connection with one arm of said bellcrank, a pin secured to the other arm of said bellcrank and so connected thereto 55 and to said valve as to permit free movement of said pin relatively to said bellcrank during rocking movement of the latter; and means for adjusting the position of said pin with respect to said bell crank. 60

8. In a fluid pressure regulator, the combination of a casing having inlet means on its rear side for coupling it to a fiuid supply and outlet means on its front side for connecting it to a fluid delivery pipe, said casing having alined o openings, a bore between such openings, and a chamber between said bore and one of said openings, said chamber connecting with said inlet ineans, caps normally closing said openings; a nozzle communicating with said chamber; a valve 7 controlling the outlet orifice of said nozzle; a quill carrying said nozzle and said valve, said quill being secured in said bore and chamber and removable with said nozzle and valve as a unit from the casing through one of said open- 75 aperture-s adjacent the outlet orifice of said nozzle; pressure-responsive means for operating said valve including a diaphragm, a bellcrank connected to said diaphragm, a pin operatively connected to said bellcrank and to said valve; and means whereby said pin is removable and adjustable through the other of said casing openings.

9. In a fluid regulator, the combination of a casing comprising a base'section and a top section secured together; a diaphragm secured between said sections and dividing the interior of said casing into base and top compartments; a device carried by said top section and in said top compartment for adjusting said diaphragm; said base section being drilled transversely of the axis of said diaphragm to provide a chamher and a bore and a cavity axially in line, said base section having an inlet opening into said chamber, said bore having a port intermediate ings s'aid bore and said quill having registering the ends of its wall opening into said base compartment; a quill secured in said chamber and bore and having, between its ends, an aperture registering with said port; a nozzle secured in said quill and having a passage terminating adjacent said aperture and communicating with said chamber; a valve in said quill controlling such nozzle passage adjacent said aperture; means whereby said valve is operable by said diaphragm including a spring projecting into said cavity; said quill with the nozzle and the valve carried thereby being removable as a unit from said casing through said chamber; detachable caps normally closing said cavity and said chamber; and pressure gages secured to the top side of said base section at opposite sides of the top casing section and diaphragm-adjusting device, said base section having passages respectively connecting said cavity and said chamber to said gages.

WORTHY C. BUCKNAM. 

